LYNN — A modest line of cars celebrated the grand opening of Lynn’s new Express Testing Site Wednesday as the city became one of just four Massachusetts communities to host a state-funded Express COVID-19 Test Site.
Located at the Blossom Street Extension parking lot — also known as the Lynn Ferry Terminal — the Stop the Spread drive-through facility will remain open through at least March 31 and is run by Project Beacon, a company that specializes in high-volume, appointment-only testing.
Although meant to replace two of Lynn’s free testing locations, Mayor Thomas M. McGee said the site, which is open to all Massachusetts residents, will actually expand Lynn’s testing capacity with the goal of performing up to 2,000 tests a day once the site reaches full capacity in early January — a number McGee estimates will be nearly double the amount currently administered in the city daily.
“Initially, before seeing how they were setting up the location, it wasn’t clear how that would work, but they definitely know what they’re doing,” McGee said. “I know they move people through pretty quickly, so it’s great to see.”
Two of Lynn’s Stop the Spread sites, located at Lynn English High School and the Western Avenue Lynn Fire Station, are slated to shut down January 4 as the city joins other Express Test Site communities of Revere, Framingham, and New Bedford.
“I know the sites at Lynn English and behind the Western Avenue Fire Station … were very crowded. The process was slow. Some people have been waiting three or four hours the last several days” McGee said. “Obviously (the new site) isn’t going to have 2,000 tests immediately, but it’s an opportunity to ramp things up once people get used to the way it works.”
Unlike Lynn Community Health Center’s walk-through site, there will be no pedestrian walk-up access allowed at the Project Beacon drive-through center. Tests can be scheduled ahead of time by making an account at app.beacontesting.com. Results are promised within 24 hours.
Due to the holidays, all of the city’s four testing sites will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. All sites will also close at noon on Dec. 30. Regular hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a one-hour break between noon and 1 p.m.
Updated test site hours are available at https://www.lynnma.gov/covid19/resources.shtml.
“It’s not only about the testing, but getting your results quickly. Those are two important pieces of it,” McGee said. “We’re glad to see the state stepping up and providing us (with this new site). We definitely anticipate there will be more of an ability to get more people tested through there.”
More information about the site and Project Beacon can be found at www.mass.gov/express-testing, or by calling Project Beacon’s call center at 617-741-7310. Questions can also be emailed to [email protected]. A press release from the mayor’s office stated that appointments will become available several days in advance at a time.
Tests are free, no health insurance is required, and participants will not be asked about their immigration status.
